Overview
Verbs are words that describe actions (run, write), states (be, seem, know), or occurrences (happen, become). Every English sentence needs a verb. Verbs change form to show tense, person, and number, and they are the central element around which all other sentence parts are organised.
Verb Types
- Actionrun, write, eat, go — express a physical or mental action
- Stativeknow, believe, want, seem — express states, not ongoing actions
- Linkingbe, become, seem, appear, feel — connect subject to description
- Auxhave, do, be, will, can, must — help form tenses and questions
Key Verb Forms
- Base form: play · 3rd person: plays · Past: played
- Past participle: played (regular) / gone, written (irregular)
- -ing form (present participle): playing
- Infinitive: to play — used after many verbs and adjectives
Common Mistakes
- ❌ I am knowing her → ✅ I know her (stative verb)
- ❌ She go every day → ✅ She goes (3rd person -s)
- ❌ He have finished → ✅ He has finished
When to use
Action Verbs
She runs five kilometres every morning.
Stative Verbs
He believes in hard work.
Linking Verbs
The soup smells delicious.
Auxiliary Use
They have already finished.